Movies Update: ‘Joy Ride’ and More

Plus, Andrew Ridgeley talks about George Michael and Wham!

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 7, 2023 By Stephanie Goodman Film Editor Hi, film fans! After "Everything Everywhere All at Once" won best picture at the Oscars this year, there was a lot of speculation about whether it would change how Hollywood tells stories about Asian American lives. With the sex comedy "Joy Ride," which opens this weekend, and a handful of other new movies and series, it looks like we're seeing a wholehearted effort to depict characters who are both deeply flawed and fully fleshed out. My colleague Matt Stevens notes that the huge success of "Crazy Rich Asians" in 2018 also helped pave the way for the new titles, including "Beef" and "Shortcomings." The upshot, he writes, is that "audiences are finally getting to see all dimensions of the Asian American experience — even the weird, bad and raunchy parts." Speaking of raunchy, how is "Joy Ride"? Elisabeth Vincentelli made it a Critic's Pick, writing that the tale of four friends on a raucous trip to China delivers "a sustained, sometimes near-berserk, barrage of jokes, interspersed with epic set pieces." It's one of several Critic's Picks this weekend, including a literary mystery, "The Lesson"; a dark comedy, "Amanda"; and a documentary about African filmmaking, "Once Upon a Time in Uganda." Whatever you choose to watch, enjoy the movies! Toma Vagner For Asian American Actors, Playing a Hot Mess Is Liberating Forget the pious immigrant family drama. Films and shows like "Joy Ride," "Beef" and "Shortcomings" are finally exploring all dimensions of the experience. By Matt Stevens Netflix Andrew Ridgeley on George Michael and Life After Wham! "The only thing I ever wanted to do from the age of 14 was to be in a band," but he is content with the duo's short career, which is chronicled in a new documentary. By Erik Piepenburg Paramount Pictures With Indiana Jones's Return, Looking Back at the Opening Scene of 'Raiders' A shot-by-shot breakdown of the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" sequence that became a defining one in adventure movies. By Jason Bailey Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Ed Araquel/Lionsgate CRITIC'S PICK 'Joy Ride' Review: A Raunch-Com Roller Coaster Four friends travel to China in a trip that goes entertainingly off the rails in this terrific comedy, starring Ashley Park and Sherry Cola. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Netflix CRITIC'S PICK 'Wham!' Review: They Made It Big, Then Broke Up A new movie documents George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's storming of the pop airwaves as the duo Wham! and laughs past the thorny questions. By Wesley Morris Anna Patarakina/Bleecker Street CRITIC'S PICK 'The Lesson' Review: Carefully Taut A tense standoff between two writers kindles familial fireworks in this wittily self-aware melodrama. By Jeannette Catsoulis Oscilloscope CRITIC'S PICK 'Amanda' Review: My Loneliness Is Killing Me A delusional college grad befriends an agoraphobic misanthrope in this stylish dark comedy by the Italian director Carolina Cavalli. By Beatrice Loayza Matt Porwoll/Yellow Veil Pictures/Drafthouse Films CRITIC'S PICK 'Once Upon a Time in Uganda' Review: When Ragtag Met Rambo A new documentary tells how a Ugandan filmmaker and an American producer have reshaped African cinema. By Robert Daniels IFC Films CRITIC'S PICK 'Biosphere' Review: It's the End of the World (and They Caused It) What happens when a petulant, anti-intellectual president destroys the planet and he and his childhood buddy, the brainy one, are the only survivors? By Amy Nicholson MOVIE REVIEWS Scott Yamano/Netflix 'The Out-Laws' Review: Adam Devine, Funny at Last Devine channels Jack Lemmon as a law-abiding Everyman whose fiancée's parents rob the bank he manages. (Awkward.) By Glenn Kenny Library of Congress, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures 'The League' Review: A Crucial Baseball Legacy Sam Pollard's new documentary traces the history of the Negro leagues. By Ben Kenigsberg Boris Martin/Screen Gems/Sony 'Insidious: The Red Door' Review: The Ghost of Jump Scares Past Patrick Wilson makes his directorial debut with this fifth installment of the horror franchise haunted by a red-faced demon. By Jason Zinoman Kristy Tully/Drafthouse Films 'The YouTube Effect' Review: Tracing a Platform's Cultural Footprint Alex Winter offers an overview of the world's second most popular website in this unfocused tech documentary. By Natalia Winkelman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Victor Llorente for The New York Times Patrick Wilson: The Scream King Takes the Director's Chair The actor had long wanted to make a film. When he was offered the job on the new "Insidious," the chance to direct a box office hit proved very appealing. By Beatrice Loayza Warner Bros. Pictures How Do 'Barbie' and Blackpink Figure in a Dangerous Territorial Dispute? Vietnam banned the film over its apparent use of a Chinese map showing disputed territory. Blackpink concerts may be next. Here's what the fuss is about. By Mike Ives Photo illustration by Najeebah Al-Ghadban SCREENLAND What's Lost When Censors Tamper With Classic Films A new edit of 'The French Connection' removes a racial slur. But nit-picking old artworks for breaking today's rules inevitably makes it harder to see the complete picture. By Niela Orr New Line Cinema AN APPRAISAL Alan Arkin Could Do It All. In 'Glengarry Glen Ross,' He Did. The actor's distinguished career is best captured by the humanity in his portrayal of a real estate salesman in the 1992 film written by David Mamet. By Jason Bailey Karen Sas/Artisan Entertainment Paul Justman, Who Shed Light on Motown's Unsung Heroes, Dies at 74 After establishing himself as a leading music video director in the 1980s, he found acclaim with his 2002 documentary about session musicians. By Alex Williams STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Paramount + Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a hiking trip gone wrong and a luxury vacation that takes a depraved turn. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Netflix Five Children's Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a sweet dragon tale, the new "Avatar" installment and an updated Cinderella story. By Dina Gachman Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Continue reading the main story Need help? 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